When planning or redesigning public spaces like parks, plazas, or urban walkways, one practical question often comes up: How much space should I leave between two urban benches for social distancing?
If you're aiming to follow general public health guidelines for social distancing—especially in the context of preventing airborne illness transmission—the simple answer is at least 6 feet (about 1.8 meters) between the edges of two benches when people are seated. But let’s be honest: that’s often not enough in real-world use.
Here’s why.
When people sit on a bench, they naturally lean forward or backward, stretch their legs, or place bags beside them. So if you place two benches exactly 6 feet apart, people sitting on opposite benches could still be within close breathing range if they lean toward each other. To add a safety buffer, many urban planners now recommend 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 meters) between benches.
There’s more nuance depending on bench orientation:
- Back-to-back benches – These can be placed with a gap of 4 to 6 feet, since seated users face away from each other.
- Side-by-side benches – Leave at least 6 feet between the ends of the benches to discourage people from sitting too close.
- Facing benches – This is where you need the most space. Keep the facing edges at least 10 feet apart to account for leg room and breathing zones.
Also consider traffic flow. If the benches are along a walking path, leave at least 3 to 4 feet of clear space behind each bench so pedestrians can pass without brushing against seated individuals.
In short, while 6 feet is the minimum, going with 8 to 10 feet between benches is more realistic for safety and comfort in most urban settings. Always think about how real people actually use the space—not just the distance from bench to bench, but the distance from person to person.